“Health services for the poor should not be poor health services,” said President Pranab Mukherjee while addressing the 40th Convocation of All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He also said that there is a need to craft a high quality national health system that is used by the poor and the rich alike.
Mr Mukherjee voiced his concern over the health of masses. He said, “I am deeply concerned about the impoverishing impact of health and medical expenses on the vulnerable sections of our society.” It is unacceptable that almost 80 per cent of the expenditure on healthcare by our people is met by personal, out of one’s pocket, he added.
He said, “I am shocked to note that as many as 4 crore people of our country plunge into poverty each year due to expenses on medical treatment.”
Suggesting out of the box managerial and administrative reforms at the state and Central levels, he said public health system must be greatly expanded and strengthened across the nation.
“We need many more nurses, doctors, paramedics and health workers. We need to decentralise planning and implementation of healthcare to the district and sub-district levels.
“We need to take health services closer to the homes of the families — even a primary health centre is too far by today’s standard and need,” Mr Mukherjee added.
Asserting that health is among the topmost priorities of the government, he said the nation’s productivity depends on the health and well-being of its citizens.
“Economic growth that does not go hand-in-hand with reduction in avoidable mortality and ill-health is neither sustainable nor desirable,” the President said.
He commended, “This Institute is a tribute to the vision of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur who foresaw the need for an institution that can emerge as the trail blazer for medical education and research in the country.”
“Excellence should not be confined to Delhi but must touch the hearts of the millions all over the country who are still struggling for equitable access to quality health care,” the President said, adding that research work at AIIMS must not only be acclaimed by the academia, but must benefit the public at large.
Mr Mukherjee said the new challenges of the country’s health sectors were opportunities for the institute to contribute towards nation building.